ABSTRACT
The acid-and bile-tolerant,the transit tolerance,the ability to adhere to human intestinal cells and the ability to assimilate cholesterol of seven lactic acid bacteria and Bifidobacteria strains were studied by an in vitro method.The abilities to adhere to CCL-187 cells were different between all strains tested(P95% when incubated in simulated gastric and small intestinal juice for 3h and 4h respectively.All strains have the ability to grow in the presence of bile,and the ability varied among the strains.The cholesterol assimilated ranged from 25% to 54%.Enterococcus faecium A30,A31 and Lactobacillus acidophilus A878,PB1,which assimilated more than 40% cholesterol from circumstances,can be good hypocholesterolemic candidate strains for functional food.